HF 2297

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 02/28/2022 04:32pm

A bill for an act
relating to state government; establishing process for a legislator to request a racial
equity impact note on legislation; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapter 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

[3.99] RACIAL EQUITY IMPACT NOTES.

Subdivision 1.

Preparation.

The head or chief administrative officer of each department
or agency of state government, including the Supreme Court, shall prepare a racial equity
impact note consistent with the standards and procedures adopted under this section, at the
request of the chair and ranking minority member of the standing committee to which a bill
has been referred, the chair and ranking minority member of the house of representatives
Ways and Means Committee, or the chair and ranking minority member of the senate Finance
Committee. The Legislative Budget Office shall coordinate the completion of the racial
equity impact note.

Subd. 2.

Definitions.

For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings
given:

(1) "Supreme Court" means all agencies, committees, and commissioners supervised or
appointed by the state Supreme Court or the state court administrator; and

(2) "Protected group" has the meaning given in section 43A.02, subdivision 33.

Subd. 3.

Contents.

A racial equity impact note shall:

(1) describe whether and how legislation would have an inequitable impact on people
who are members of a protected group;

(2) describe the method used to determine the information required in clause (1);

(3) include the assumptions used in determining the impact of legislation on people in
protected groups;

(4) specify any long-range implication; and

(5) other items as determined by the Legislative Budget Office.

Subd. 4.

Distribution.

A copy of the racial equity impact note shall be delivered by the
Legislative Budget Office to the chair and ranking minority member of the house of
representatives Ways and Means Committee, the chair and ranking minority member of the
senate Finance Committee, the chair and ranking minority member of the standing committee
to which the bill has been referred; to the chief author of the bill; and to the commissioner
of management and budget.

Sec. 2. ADVISORY GROUP TO RECOMMEND CONTENTS OF AND PROCESS
FOR DEVELOPING A RACIAL EQUITY IMPACT NOTE.

Subdivision 1.

Membership.

The Racial Equity Impact Advisory Group consists of the
following members:

(1) the executive director of the Legislative Budget Office or a designee selected by the
Legislative Budget Office Oversight Committee;

(2) the commissioner of the Department of Human Rights or the commissioner's designee;

(3) the executive directors of each of the ethnic councils under Minnesota Statutes,
section 15.0145;

(4) the executive director of the Indian Affairs Council under Minnesota Statutes, section
3.922;

(5) the executive director of the Minnesota Humanities Center or the director's designee;

(6) one representative designated by the Center for Economic Inclusion; and

(7) two public members designated by the executive director of the Minnesota Business
Partnership.

Subd. 2.

Duties.

The advisory group must develop recommendations for the required
contents of a racial equity impact note and on the process for agencies to use to generate a
racial equity impact note. The advisory group must identify sources of data for use by
agencies to prepare racial equity impact notes and for the Legislative Budget Office to
review and coordinate the completion of racial equity impact notes. The advisory group
must submit a report describing their recommendations by February 1, 2022, to the chairs
and ranking minority members of the Legislative Budget Office Oversight Committee. The
report should include draft legislation to codify the advisory group's recommendations for
racial equity impact notes.

Subd. 3.

Administration.

The executive director of the Legislative Budget Office shall
convene the first meeting of the advisory group by September 1, 2021. Upon request of the
advisory group members, the executive director of the Legislative Budget Office must
arrange meeting space and provide administrative support for the group.

Subd. 4.

Chair.

The members of the advisory group must elect a chair or cochairs at the
initial meeting.

Subd. 5.

Compensation.

Public members serve without compensation.

Subd. 6.

Expiration.

The advisory group expires February 1, 2022, or upon submission
of the report required under subdivision 2, whichever is earlier.

Subd. 7.

Gifts and grants.

The advisory group may accept gifts and grants, which are
accepted on behalf of the state and constitute donations to the state. Funds received under
this paragraph are appropriated to the Legislative Budget Office for purposes of the advisory
group.

Subd. 8.

Deadline for appointments and designations.

The appointments and
designations authorized by this section must be completed by August 1, 2021.

Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION.

$....... in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the Legislative
Coordinating Commission to fund the work of the Legislative Budget Office supporting
the advisory group established in section 2.